The carpet cleaning methods that are right for a home will depend on the amount of traffic the carpet or rugs endure, whether or not children and pets live in the home, and whether anyone in the home has allergies. It is also very important for the life of the carpet to choose a cleaning method that is compatible with the materials that it is made of. This is why it is often better for people to hire a service staffed by professionals than to attempt to deep clean a carpets themselves. These services generally offer five methods of cleaning: shampooing, dry cleaning, foam cleaning, bonnet cleaning, and steam cleaning. Regardless of which method is used, all carpets that are to be deep cleaned will be will first thoroughly vacuumed first.

Carpet cleaning that involves shampooing is probably the least effective method. Special detergents are applied to the carpet or rug and agitated with a machine. The shampoo is then extracted from the carpet by vacuuming. The detergents used contain brighteners and deodorizers that leave the carpet looking nice and smelling good, but much of the dirt and microbes stay in the carpet and later reappear.

The dry cleaning method is often considered preferable because there is no need to wait for the carpets to dry. This method is performed by covering the carpet with a special cleaning powder that is designed to attract dirt like a magnet. Once the powder is worked into the carpet, it is thoroughly vacuumed away.

The foam carpet cleaning method is a cross between shampooing and dry cleaning. It uses a minimal amount of water and foam detergent that attracts and adheres to the soil. After the foam is worked into the carpet, it is thoroughly vacuumed, extracting most of the water, detergent, and dirt.

The bonnet method is usually preformed only in commercial buildings. It does not work as well in residential homes, because it is designed mainly to maintain or restore the appearance of industrial carpeting rather than to provide deep cleaning. This method also has the potential of damaging the fibers that most home carpets are composed of. Bonnet cleaning is performed by applying a chemical detergent to the carpet and using an absorbent pad on a rotary shampoo machine to extract the dirt.

Steam cleaning, also known as hot water extraction, is the most effective method of carpet cleaning. Professional services use a powerful machine that injects a solution of hot water and detergent into the carpet or rug. The mixture is then powerfully extracted by the machine, leaving the carpets looking and smelling like new, but most importantly, removing as much of the soil and microbes as possible.

Discuss this Article

ericnhPost 18

It is surprising to know there are several kinds of carpet cleaning services that exist. I knew about dry cleaning and hot water extraction but used only the dry cleaning method of carpet cleaning services. They do their work very well so that i never need to think of an alternate method. Now I have some options with me to deal with carpet cleaning next time.

anon357615Post 15

I never knew that there are types of carpet cleaning services because I do most of the cleaning all by myself.

anon335750Post 14

Thanks for the suggestions. The time factor is the major key her. Due to hectic schedules for daily chores, we hardly get much time for cleaning. So to keep the things in flow, I hired a cleaning company for my house and office cleaning. I love their work and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone out there.

Kurtharris01Post 13

Apart from the hot water extraction method there is another method which is being used these days by companies that is low moisture cleaning. Here the carpets are cleaned carefully leaving them fresh and hygienic. I was impressed by this method.

anon309844Post 11

How do you prevent a stain from coming back?

anon295015Post 10

It does not work as well as other methods in residential homes, because it is designed mainly to maintain or restore the appearance of industrial carpeting rather than to provide deep cleaning.

anon152119Post 8

Thank you for clearing up some of the confusion for me and in helping me determine which method would be the best solution for my carpeting. Your information was extremely helpful.

anon132754Post 6

your post is great. I have gathered so much information about carpet cleaning.

Well WebPost 4

I have to agree with the comment about hot water extraction. In Nashville we use a cleaning company that uses hot water extraction for their truck. It takes a few hours to dry but so what? The carpet is clean and feels fresh.

anon100657Post 3

Wisegeek is nearly correct but anon is way off the mark.

Under correct dilution control and temperature conditions the 'best' way to clean carpet is:

This however is not what 'most' carpet owners want, mainly due to pricing and time inflation. It is also true that very few carpet cleaners can offer this service.

anon19433Post 1

This method when used in a carpet cleaning buffer is superior to steam cleaning when the right mixture of chemicals are used. If the mixture is off, however, it is pretty much useless. In fact, while the carpet is still wet, the chemical continues to clean, and the dirt and oils do not reappear after the shampooing effect is expired. If it does it's because the chemicals were not properly mixed, or the wrong dilution rate was used. It will leave the carpets clean and soft to the touch when dried. What you forgot to tell people is the hot water extraction method leaves the carpets wet for at least 12 hours during normal conditions. You must have one of

those steam cleaners. Portables are useless, the company has to have an expensive truck mount to do the job right which the customer has to pay for. Even then, carpets are left wet, and if the technician uses too much water, it's not hard for the pad to get soaked. Then there's a real problem. I prefer the foam method or shampoo the best.

Post your comments

Please enter the code:

Login

Register

Make changes/additions/deletions to the article below, and one of our editors will publish your suggestions if warranted.

Optional: Explanation of your recommended changes

Thank You!

One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted.
Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive,
this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!